Versie van 5 aug 2009 om 11:12

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This is the common definition for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

DDT

Formula

C14H9C15

DDT, like other organochlorine pesticides enter the marine environment mainly through inputs from water and air, as a result of their use in agriculture. Although the use of DDT in Western countries has been forbidden since the 1970's, they are still detected in the marine environment due to it's extreme stability, to illegal use or to use elsewhere (third world countries).
DDT is metabolized into dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) which is equally toxic. Therefore, to asses the risk of DDT exposure, the sum both contaminants needs to be taken into account. This also means that when you encounter a high percentage of DDT, the contamination must be a recent one.[2]. It's still possible to find recent contaminations of DDT, especially in third world countries, where the use of DDT still isn't everywhere prohibited.[3]

DDT affects the central nervous system of insects and other animals. This results in hyperactivity, paralysis and death.
DDT also affects eggshell production in birds and the endocrine system of most animals. [4]

DDT has a very high tenancy towards biomagnification. When in a simple ecosystem the background concentration is equal to 1, then zooplankton can accumulate concentrations of 13.000, small fish species concentrations of 170.000, large fishes up to 670.000 and finally birds will accumulate concentrations up to 8.300.000. [3] DDT has been found in all marine ecosystems, including the Antarctic and the deep sea. It can be found in all components of the marine food web.